Mining machine



Octn 5 1926.

M. P. HOLMES MINING MACHINE Filed July 5. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct 5 i MINING MACHINE Filed July :5. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1,602,156 M. P. HOLMES Y proved mining machine of the flexibly fed,

Patented ct. 5, 1925.

narran erases *v iterate .MORRIS P. HOLMES, OF CLAREIVIONT, NEVJ HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR'TO SITIILIVAN MA- CHINERY COMPANY, A COR-FORATIGN OF MASSACI-ISETTS.

MINING MACHINE.

Application filed July 3,

My invention relates tokmining machines. An object of my invention is to provide an improved mining machine. Another object of my invention is to provide an-imroom and pillar type having improved ineans to facilitate the starting or sumping cut of such a machine. Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved means on which the machine is supported during operation for facilitating thesumping cut of the mining machine` and for guarding the rapidly moving cutter bits. A. further object of my invention is to provide an improved supplement-al frame slidalole on the mine bottom on which the machine is supported adapted for use in suniping and in .the out across the face, which is also automatically movable and adapted to be aut-omatically maintained in position.` A still further object of my invention is to provide an yimproved telescopic cutter bit guard for the cutter chain used with a mining machine. Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved telescopic supplemental sumping frame and cutter bit guard for a mining machine which is guided by the bottom of the cutterl bar and which is of an eX- Vceedingly simple and compact form substan-y tially no longer than the frame of the miningV machine. A still further object of my invention is to provide a mechanism of the class mentioned which will be freely universally movable over the mine bottomand so avoid a pronounced difficulty found with prior devices wherein due to the construction employed the resistance to movement was at times very great and there was frequent trouble due to digging into the bot-- tom. These and other objects and advan tages of my invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear. j

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration one forni' which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,-

Fig. lis a side elevation of amining ma chine equipped with my improvement, the supplemental frame being shown in its extended or sumping position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mining machine shown in Fig. l.

1924. Serial No. 723,954.

Fig. 3 is aside elevation of the'mining machine shown in Figs. l and 2, the supplemental frame being shown in its collapsed or retracted position.

Fig d is aV transversevertical sectional view taken .substantially on line l-l of Fig. l. f i l Fig. 5 'is a detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

. Figs. 6 3, 7, Sand 9 are diagrammaticl views illustrating the various operative positions of the machine and the supplemental frame.

In this illustrative form ofmy invention I have shown a mining machine,generally designated l, of the flexibly fed room and pillar type provided with a mainframe 2 normally slidable on itsbottom 3 relative to a flexible feedingmember, herein a `feed chain 4l, which is adapted to cooperate with afeed ,operating member or sprocket -rotatable on va vertical aXis, and cooperating guide sprockets 6 and -7 in the usual manner. The forward'end yof thel frame 2 carries a progectingcutter bar 8 provided with a cutter vchain 9. adapted to be circulated about the bar and carrying cutter bits l0. The feed operating 'member 5 is rotatable in oppositeV directions vat cutting and moving speeds andboth the members and the cutter chain 9 are driven through suitable power connections from a motor (not shown) f of any suitabletype carried ,by the frame 2.l

Any othervform or arrangement of feed operating members and driving mechanism therefor may be used if desired. Y

-In my .improved construction I have provided a supplemental supporting frame or pan, generally designated 11, which coinprises a flat elongated bottom portion or shoe portion.12,.adapted to slide on the mine bottom during the operation of the machine and upstanding side portions' 18, preferably in the Vform` of cutter chain guards, provided ywith inwardly projecting angular portions 14 guided in grooves l5 formed by a longitudinally extending plate 16 bolted, as as 177,

enfreint fornire.

to the opposite sides of the machine frame 2. r

The upper surface of the bottom portion 12 of the supplemental supporting frameis provided with'an upstanding guide member or bracket 18 Aadapted to underlie the cutter bar and which is provided with laterally eXtendment of the mining machine and causing` the rear end of the mining machine t0 be held in an elevated positionas shown in Fig. l. In order to limit the forward movement of the supplemental frame l1, l have provided an abutment 2e at the forward end of the slotted guide 2O formed in the cutter bar 8, `while the rearward movement of the supplemental frame is limited by an abutment 25 formed by the rear end of the slotted guide 20, thus preventing` displacement of he supplemental supporting frame from the mining machine frame 2. To prevent the supplemental frame from telescoping with respect to the machine frame, as the machine is being fed tothe face, l have provided a removable pin 26 which is engaged by the rear end of the supplemental frame as shown in Fig. l. f

ln the use `of my improved device, previous to the sumping-or starting operation, the supplemental supporting frame ll is preferably, when for example on the truck, disposed in the position .shown in Figs. l, 2 and 6 and retained in this position until properly located at .the rib and with the forward end of the frame jacked down by means of the jack 28. The feed chain 4t is then extended from the feed sprocket 5 and the guide sprockets 6 and 7 forwardly along the machine and anchoredrby a jack (not yshown at a pointadiacent the work- 'ing face, in a well known manner and at either side thereof depending on whether it is desired to draw in the advance or receding portion of the feed chain during` sump'- ing. The motor is then started, causing the feed sprocket 5 to rotate, consequently causing the machine Vto move forwardly in the supplemental supporting frame 1l relative to the feed chain l and thereby cau-sing the cutter bar to be sumped in under the coal' as indicated in Fig. 7, the frame 1l telescoping rrelative to the machine frame .into the position shown in Fig.y 3. The feed chain is then extended laterally relative to the machine frame 2 with its ends connected at the opposite rib in a well known manner and the machine moves relative tothe feed chain transverselyV across the face at its cutting speed, the machine then resting' on the supplemental frame ll which in turn forms the machine shoe and slides laterally on the mine bottom, as indicated by dotted lines in F ig. 7. The 'machine is then angled by a take-up mechanism of the usual type (see Fig. 8) and then the cut is completed by pulling the bar from the face, the machine then' sliding to rearward relative to the supporting shoe L9) until it assumes the relation shown in Fig. l in which it is preferably fined by means of the pin which remains in position until the start of the next sumping cut. The machine is then hauled back to its transport truck at a slow speed (see Fig. 9) in a well known manner. l' will be observed that during the suinping cut, the cutter bar 8 is guided by the b raclzet member i8 carried by the frame li. Attention. also directed to the fact hat the upstanding sides ofthe frame il which., during the sumping cut close the cutter chain 9, act to prevent injury to the machine operator during the sumping eut.

As a result of my improvement it will herein be noted that l have provided avrsupp emental frame and guard member which ire adapted to guide the machine during the sumping cut and to guard the cutter bits, thereby protecting the operator from injury, which is of exceedingly simple, rugged, and compact form, and which may be applied to a mining machine of standard constructic-n with a minimum of change and expense. lt will also be noted that have provided an improved supplemental sumping and guarding Yllame which is carried by theexterior of the miningmachine frame, which is guided by the bottom portion of the cutter bar, and which is substantially `no longer than the frame of themining machine. lt will further be noted that l have provided a construction in which the machine frame is so supported that it is really capable of the same free universal movement on the mine bottom that is practicable with a frame vithout any guard whatever.

llhile l have in this application specili- .caliy described one form which my invention may assume .in practice, it will be un derstood that this form of the same is yshown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modiiied and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims. Y j

Vihat l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A mining machine comprising a main frame and a cutter bar rigidly disposed longitudinally thereoef during` cutting, feeding means for sumping said bar into a face, feeding it across the same, and withdrawing, it therefrom, and a rigid supplemental fra-me telescopically connected to said main frame and cooperating, when in extended position, with the bottom Vsaid main frame to produce bottom engaging' mea-ns supporting said entire machine, and when in teleseoped titl position providing a plane shoe supporting the machine frame wholly thereon for free universal movement on the mine bottom.

2. A mining machine comprising a main frame and a cutter bar rigidly disposed longaging means supportingy said entire machine, and when in telescoped position providing a plane shoe supporting-the machine frame-thereon for free universal movement on the mine bottom. Y, I

3. A mining machine comprisinga main frame and a cutter bar rigidly disposed longitudinally thereof during cutting, feeding'` means for sumping saidbar into a face, feeding itacross the same, and withdrawing it therefrom, and a rigid supplemental frame telescopically connected to said main frame and cooperating, when in extended position, with the bottom of said main frame .to produce bottom engaging means supporting said entire machine, and when in telescoped position'providing a plane shoe'sup-A porting the machine' fra-me wholly thereon for free universal movement on the mine bottom, said shoe at such time engaging the bottom at the forward end of said frame, at the rear end thereof and at an intermediate point. -f y V4. A. mining machine comprising a main frame and a Vcutter bar rigidly disposed longitudinally thereof during cutting, feeding means for sumping said bar into a face,

feeding it across the same, and withdrawing it therefrom, and a rigid supplemental frame telescopically connected to said main frame and cooperating, when in extended position, With the bottom of said main frame'.

to produce bottom engagingvr means supporting said entire machine, and Vwhen in ltelesconed osition rovidin a lane shoe supporting the machine frame thereon for free universal movement on the mine bottom, the'planes of the bottom surfaces of said frames being parallel in. all lrelativ positions of said frames. In testimony whereof I 'affix my signature.

Moiims P. HOLMES. 

